Cat boarding is a smaller market than dog boarding, and catteries often operate on tighter margins. Does it make sense to invest in management software? Hereâs an honest look at the costs and benefits for small cattery owners.
Understanding Cattery-Specific Needs
Before discussing ROI, itâs worth noting what makes catteries different:
- Individual housing: Cats rarely share units (unlike dog playgroups)
- FIV/FeLV tracking: Additional health screening requirements
- Feeding complexity: Cats are notoriously particular about food
- Lower average rates: Cat boarding typically costs less than dog boarding
- Smaller scale: Many catteries operate with 10-25 units
These factors affect the software value proposition.
The Real Costs
Subscription Pricing
For small catteries, expect:
- Entry-level: ÂŁ30-50/month
- Mid-tier: ÂŁ50-80/month
- Setup fees: Usually waived or ÂŁ0-150
Note: Thereâs no âcattery premiumââpricing is the same as general boarding software.
Time Investment
- Setup: 3-6 hours
- Data entry: 1-3 hours (catteries typically have fewer clients)
- Training: 1-2 hours
- Learning curve: 2-3 weeks
Customisation Effort
Most platforms arenât cattery-specific. You may need to:
- Configure custom fields for FIV/FeLV tracking
- Adjust vaccination settings for feline vaccines
- Set up cat-specific feeding templates
This adds 1-2 hours to initial setup.
The Benefits
Time Savings
| Task | Manual | With Software |
|---|---|---|
| Booking (phone/email) | 10-12 mins | Self-service |
| Checking FIV/FeLV status | 5-8 mins | Instant flag |
| Vaccination verification | 5 mins | Automatic |
| Feeding notes lookup | 3-5 mins | Immediate |
| Invoice creation | 10 mins | Automatic |
For a 20-unit cattery, expect 4-6 hours weekly time savings.
Revenue Protection
No-show reduction: Automated reminders work just as well for cat owners. Expect 30-50% reduction in no-shows.
At ÂŁ20/night with 1-2 no-shows per week:
- Weekly recovery: ÂŁ10-20
- Monthly: ÂŁ40-80
Online booking capture: Cat owners are just as likely to book online at 10pm as dog owners. 24/7 availability captures bookings youâd otherwise miss.
Health Record Accuracy
Cattery-specific benefits:
- FIV/FeLV test tracking with expiry alerts
- FVRCP vaccination monitoring
- Detailed feeding preferences stored per cat
- Medication tracking for diabetic or hyperthyroid cats
One missed health check could result in disease transmissionâsoftware prevents this.
Professional Presentation
Cat owners are often particularly discerning. A professional booking experience:
- Signals that you take care seriously
- Differentiates you from informal operations
- Justifies premium pricing
ROI Calculation for Small Catteries
Scenario: 15-unit cattery, ÂŁ22/night average, 60% occupancy
| Factor | Monthly Value |
|---|---|
| Admin time savings (5 hrs/week Ă ÂŁ14) | +ÂŁ280 |
| No-show reduction (4 nights Ă ÂŁ22 Ă 40%) | +ÂŁ35 |
| Booking capture (2 extra bookings) | +ÂŁ88 |
| Error/compliance prevention | +ÂŁ50 |
| Total monthly benefit | +ÂŁ453 |
| Software cost | -ÂŁ45 |
| Net monthly gain | +ÂŁ408 |
The ROI is positive, though smaller in absolute terms than dog boarding due to lower rates.
When Cattery Software IS Worth It
Clear yes:
- You have more than 10 units
- Youâre open year-round (not seasonal hobby)
- You have staff or plan to hire
- FIV/FeLV tracking is important to you
- You want to grow
- Clients ask about online booking
Probably yes:
- Solo operation with 15+ units
- You also offer other services
- Competitors have modern systems
When It Might Not Be Worth It
Possible no:
- Fewer than 8-10 units
- Seasonal operation (holidays only)
- Informal arrangement with regulars only
- No growth ambitions
- Very low-tech client base
Cattery-Specific Software Considerations
What to Check Before Committing
- Can you add FIV/FeLV tracking? Either built-in or via custom fields
- Does it support feline vaccine types? FVRCP, not just DHPP
- How detailed are feeding fields? Cats need brand, wet/dry preference, portion sizes
- Are there other cattery customers? Ask for references
- Can you configure unit types? Standard, premium, family units for multiple cats
Platforms That Work for Catteries
Most general boarding platforms work with configuration:
- PetLinx (good for smaller operations)
- ProPet (handles multiple species well)
- Kennel Booker (popular with UK catteries)
- Gingr (if you need more features)
No platform is built exclusively for catteriesâthe market is too small.
Making Your Decision
Calculate Your Admin Hours
Track for one week:
- Time spent on booking calls/emails
- Time checking vaccination records
- Time managing feeding instructions
- Time on invoicing
Multiply by your hourly rate. Compare to software cost.
Assess Your Pain Points
Is your biggest challenge:
- Missed bookings? â Online booking helps
- Vaccination tracking? â Automated alerts help
- Feeding mistakes? â Documented notes help
- Invoicing time? â Automation helps
Ensure software addresses your specific issues.
Trial With Real Data
During free trial:
- Set up FIV/FeLV custom fields
- Enter your actual cats and their requirements
- Process a few real bookings
- Test from the cat ownerâs perspective
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there software specifically for catteries?
No dedicated cattery-only software exists. The market is too small. General boarding platforms work well with proper configuration.
How do I track FIV/FeLV in general software?
Use custom fields. Most platforms allow you to create additional health record fields with date tracking and expiry alerts.
Do cat owners use online booking?
Yes. Adoption rates are similar to dog ownersâ60-80% once available. Cat owners are no less tech-savvy than dog owners.
Is the ROI lower for catteries than kennels?
In absolute pounds, often yesâbecause nightly rates are lower. As a percentage of revenue, itâs comparable. Software still pays for itself.
What if I board both cats and dogs?
This is ideal for software. You get unified client management, combined billing, and can cross-sell services. Most platforms handle multiple species.
Conclusion
For commercial catteries with more than 10-12 units, software is worth the investment. The ROI is positive, and the professionalism it brings helps compete with larger facilities.
For very small operations (under 10 units), the calculation is closer. If youâre happy with your current systems and not planning to grow, you might defer the investment. But if youâre losing bookings, making errors, or spending excessive time on admin, software solves those problems regardless of size.
Take a free trial. Configure it for cats properly. The answer will become clear.
Ready to explore your options? See our complete cattery software guide for features, pricing, and platform comparisons.
Related reading: How to Start a Cattery Business, Kennel Software Guide
